February 17-23, 2013

February 17 – 23 2013

Old Testament, Leviticus 15-27

What was the purpose of the day of atonement described in chapter 16? In chapter 18, God rules out a number of sexual relationships, including close relatives, same-sex relationships, and humans with animals.  What was God’s purpose in making these rules? God told the people not to reap to the very edges of their fields or gather the gleanings.  How would this principle apply to the way you manage your finances today? In 20:7, God says, “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God.”  What does it mean for you to be holy? Why didn’t God allow Israelites to offer animals that had a defect? Chapter 23 describes a series of feasts and holy days that Israelites were to observe.  What benefit would there be for people to faithfully observe these? What was the purpose of the year of Jubilee? Did the promises in chapter 26 that God said would result from obedience apply to the nation as a whole or to individuals? Why did God promise such harsh punishments for disobedience?

Psalms 21-23

Jesus quoted the first sentence of Psalm 22 when He was on the cross.  Why did David write it?  What reason did he have for thinking he had been forsaken? Psalm 22:14-18 sounds more like Jesus’ experience on the cross than anything David experienced.  How could David have written this? What does it mean to you to have the Lord as your shepherd?

New Testament, Acts 1-5

What did Jesus say would happen to the disciples when the Holy Spirit came on them?  Why didn’t He want them to leave Jerusalem until they had received what He promised? Was selecting Matthias to replace Judas a worthwhile idea? What miraculous things happened on the day of Pentecost? On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times.  On the day of Pentecost Peter stood before a crowd and boldly proclaimed, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  How do you account for this difference? Acts 2:42 summarizes what the first Christians’ fellowship was like.  Which of these elements are important to you: teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer? The man who was healed in chapter 3 had been placed at the temple gate daily.  Peter and John had probably seen him before.  Why was he healed on this particular day? Why did Ananias and Sapphira die?